Formulation comprising tetracycline or derivative and method of treating or preventing infections and inflammatory conditions

Abstract

Therapeutic composition and method for treating or preventing various conditions and diseases, including inflammatory conditions, allergies, particularly seasonal allergies, and the common cold. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic composition is a formulation comprising an antibiotic, preferably a tetracycline, most preferably doxycycline, which has not been chemically modified to eliminate antimicrobial efficacy. The antibiotic is preferably in a vehicle to form a salve or paste for topical application to the skin or the nasal cavity. The therapeutic composition most preferably is a self-applied formulation that consists essentially of a tetracycline, most preferably doxycycline, which has not been chemically modified to eliminate antimicrobial efficacy, and a vehicle such as boric acid, zinc oxide or petroleum jelly.

1 . A therapeutic composition having anti-inflammatory activity comprising an amount of a tetracycline effective for treating an inflammatory condition, said tetracycline being dispersed in a salve selected from the group consisting of petroleum jelly, zinc oxide and boric acid, said therapeutic composition being in topical delivery form and adapted for self-administration.  
   
   
       2 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said tetracycline has not been chemically modified to eliminate antimicrobial efficacy.  
   
   
       3 . The therapeutic composition of  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic composition is devoid of a morpholinoamino alcohol or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said tetracycline is doxycycline.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said anti-inflammatory activity is anti-psoriatic activity.  
   
   
       6 . A method of treating or preventing psoriasis in a patient comprising topically applying to the skin of said patient affected with psoriasis the therapeutic composition of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising covering said applied composition.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said tetracycline is doxycycline.  
   
   
       9 . A kit, comprising a tetracycline, a salve as a carrier for said tetracycline, and instructions for use of said tetracycline and carrier for treating symptoms of the common cold or allergies.  
   
   
       10 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said tetracycline is doxycycline.  
   
   
       11 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said instructions for use require application of said salve to the nasal cavity.  
   
   
       12 . A method of relieving symptoms in a patient due to the common cold or allergies, comprising directly applying to the nasal passages of said patient an effective amount of a salve comprising tetracycline dispersed in a carrier selected from the group consisting of petroleum jelly, boric acid and zinc oxide.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said tetracycline is doxycycline.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising blowing the nose of said patient to expel excess salve.